CLOUDLET

the-Scythe so many times that we may consider each other well acquainted. Nope, I am hiding from another lady.

ENYO: At your age you should be immune.

OLDMAC: She is my only weakness. And my only granddaughter and heiress.

ENYO: Who is not respecting your aristocratic traditions? Chasing the ghosts of your castle? Wants to cut down Sherwood Forest and sow genetically modified corn in its place?

OLDMAC: Quite the contrary! Positions herself as guardian of ancient traditions. Stubbornly imagines that we live in the Middle Ages. The last straw was when she dug out of a barn an old cab and insisted that it was a coach. When it got broken, she cried a river because nobody wanted to fix it.

ENYO: (laughs) She should have called the Misfortune.

OLDMAC: Even more miss Fortunes? No, thank you, one is more than enough; she does not need any more ladies friends of the kind!

ENYO: No, this is an old tale about three brothers who went to gather wood, overdid it, and when their cart broke down, first they cried their voices hoarse to attract the Misfortune as road assistance. Nobody appeared, and they themselves repaired their transport. Later they complained to their father that the Misfortune did not hear them, and he said, but of course it heard you and it came and it taught you what to do.

OLDMAC: Interesting point of view. In fact you are right young man. And this is what should be done.

ENYO: You will send a letter to Misfortune go pay your granddaughter a visit?

OLDMAC: Even better! I will send you to bring it! (rubs his hands contently ).

ENYO: As Rosencrantz and Gildenstern?

OLDMAC: No, why, I need you safe and sound.

ENYO: I did not agree to anything.

OLDMAC: This is not a problem. I am asking you for a small favor and I am ready to pay for it.

ENYO: There are courier services. They even come to Cloudlet. I think the nearest branch is in Sofia.

OLDMAC: Won’t do. Damn it, why had I not thought of this before! You hinted that you are going to the city. Do you mind an extra company?

ENYO: Why do I think that I will pay for this trip through the nose?

OLDMAC: Because you're a smart man and also know that with or without it, you are already in the game. Will you give me fifteen minutes to muster?

Scene V

The village pub. At one of the tables Tsvetan and Kosta are playing backgammon. At the other table Stavri and Valko are playing backgammon, but they are like dusted in white and no sound comes from their table. Tsranka brings two glasses of wine to the first table, goes back and brings two more glasses which she puts at the table before Stavri and Valko.

TSVETAN: Come on, one point and I would have won without you bearing off a single chip! Would have sent you to Mars but you managed to get away, damn, with one only chip but did get away!

KOSTA: This is the real master’s skill, to slip aw